WIshing Victoria & Matt huge congratulations on their wedding on Saturday. It was an absolute pleasure to photograph their special day. The morning started with a little rain, but it disappeared and we were blessed with beautiful sunshine. It was a lovely family-focused day with lots of special touches made by friends and family - including the amazing naked cake that you can see in the photos above. Victoria & Matt both looked amazing, and their emerald colour scheme worked fantastically underneath the flourishing trees.

For a while now, I have been wanting to pursue a new personal photography project. I've been playing with a few ideas and this one has been bubbling up and starting to take form. A lot has happened to me personally in the last six months, some of it good, some of it not so good. It has given me a new perspective - you can't control what life throws at you, but you can control how it affects you and how you react to it. I have taken the decision to give my all to life, to enjoy it to the full, to try my best, to cherish moments with my family. I feel inspired by strong women, women who do the same - who make a decision to take control of their own destiny.

"She believed she could, so she did."

And so to Sharon... Around the time I came up with my idea, I had been watching my friend Sharon literally disappear before my eyes. She set herself a goal and she has achieved an amazing eight and a half stone weight loss. I felt that should be celebrated, and asked her if she'd agree to be photographed. Luckily for me, she said yes!

Here, Sharon shares her story:

"I’ve always been a larger person, all my life, apart from a couple of years as a child when I lived in Trinidad and swam every day.

When I was 37 I got married to Neil and we started trying for a baby. Due to my many, many fertility issues having a baby was not easy. I tried all sorts of things to get pregnant… reflexology, appointments with nutritional consultants, and finally fertility treatment.

One of my fertility issues is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). One of the side effects of this is weight gain; it’s also not easy to lose weight when you have PCOS. One of the many treatments my fertility consultant put me on was Metformin which helps to control your insulin levels and can help with conception. Unfortunately one of the side effects of this drug is nausea and vomiting. I am the Queen of Side Effects, so of course I had every single side effect going. The nausea was constant and it got to the point when I didn’t really want to eat and even just passing a supermarket made me retch. At this point Neil took on the cooking and the food shopping every week. He’d bring me the food and I would do my best to eat it. It wasn’t always healthy food because sometimes all I could manage was carbohydrates. The good news is I did eventually get pregnant and I had identical twin boys!

Once the boys were born Neil suggested he carried on with the cooking and I looked after the children. I wasn’t about to say no to that deal, but we fell into a trap of always eating the same kinds of foods and not necessarily enough fruit and veg. It’s also very easy as a new mum to meet up with friends and eat lots of cake, and in my case drink lots of hot chocolate! I kept on getting bigger and bigger. Then we decided to book a fabulous holiday to Canada for April 2017 to have adventures with our boys. I decided that I needed to lose weight to be able to do things with my children and not just to watch them having fun. So in October 2015 I joined Slimming World.

I’d tried dieting before, but it was really hard to lose weight and I would lose motivation very quickly. I’d never tried Slimming World before but I had heard good things about it from a couple of friends and had been very impressed with their weight loss, so I decided I had to give it a go. It is all about food optimising and making sure that at least a third of every meal you eat are speed foods. That is foods that fill you up but that are low in calorific value such as vegetables, fruit and salad. You can still eat carbs like pasta, potatoes and rice, lots of protein but limit your dairy and bread intake. You have 15 syns a day to spend on things you love, in my case that is chocolate. I found that this way of eating really suited me and I didn’t feel like I was depriving myself of anything as I could still eat my chocolate and have the odd treat now and again.

By Christmas, I had lost one and a half stone and was feeling fabulous. By my Mum’s 70th birthday in February 2016, I had lost three and a half stone and was determined to keep going. I rediscovered my love of cooking and now really enjoy planning what the whole family is going to eat each week. It’s also expanded the variety of food my boys eat as they had become very fussy eaters. That is no longer the case as they will now try anything!

In February 2017, I was trying very hard to lose 3 lb to hit my 8 stone award. Unfortunately, I was struck down with a very nasty case of gallstones which caused me to become very ill with pancreatitis. I spent a week in hospital and during that time managed to lose a whole stone which got me to my 8.5 stone target. So that cloud very definitely had a silver lining.

I’m just back from my holiday to Vancouver in Canada. I had an amazing time and did things I wouldn’t have been able to do this time two years ago. I’ve been sledging on Grouse Mountain, flown in a seaplane and also wore a medium survival suit to go whale watching in Tofino. The last time I went whale watching in Tofino 17 years ago not even the XXL survival suit fitted me and I had to go in a covered boat… Although I wish I’d gone in a covered boat this trip too - it was freezing and very, very wet and rough!"

I would like to feature more inspirational women in my project - I am aiming to photograph four to five women this year. It may be in a studio setting like Sharon's photoshoot or it may be on location linked to your story. If you would like to nominate someone (or yourself!), then please contact me and share your story!

Windsor Wedding & Children's Photographer 2Wedding photography Berystede hotel As your wedding day approaches and you're planning all the finer details, your thoughts may turn to the little people attending. The majority of weddings I've photographed recently have involved children as a key part - whether as children of the bride and groom, or important friends and family as little bridesmaids and page boys. From my experience as a wedding photographer and a family photographer, I'm sharing my top tips on how to involve kids in your wedding, how to entertain them and keep them happy!

It's a big day for them too - don't expect too much

Weddings are a hectic time, gathering lots of people together, some who haven't seen each other for years. Emotions are running high and there's lots going on. It's understandable that this will affect children in different ways. Some will thrive on the attention, some will love the party atmosphere and will throw themselves into the fun, whilst others may find it a little daunting and become a little shy.

It's important not to expect too much from little ones, particularly those that are still toddlers or quite young. If it's mum and/or dad that are getting married, then it is likely to be an emotional day for them and it's important to remember and recognise this.

Windsor Wedding & Children's Photographer 3Windsor Guildhall wedding photographer If you have children as key members of your wedding party, it's likely you'll want them in your photos. I aim to work around them and involve them when they're happy. There's usually enough flexibility in the day to let them have a run around and come back to them for photos if needed. Plus I have lots of tricks up my sleeve from my experience as a family photographer to stop kids getting bored and to raise a smile (these sometimes work with the adults too and we get lots of lovely natural and fun photographs!).

For little ones that are still taking a daytime nap, think about how this will fit with the day. Are they old enough to manage without one if they don't get to sleep? Will the excitement of the day make napping difficult? If so, and you think they can't do without it, maybe ensure you find time or have a close family member on hand to take them for a drive or stroll in the buggy at a quieter point in the day to ensure they get their naptime.

Feeling important and involved

Where children are close family members and a key part of the bridal party, you may wish to give them a specific role to play or job to do so they feel involved and important and you feel they're a part of your day. I've seen some lovely ideas at weddings I've photographed:

• Little flower girls or page boys may like to carry a sign down the aisle announcing the arrival of the bride. Alternatively, you may wish to have them scattering petals. This is particularly suitable for pre-school age children.
• Children love to be ringbearers as it makes them feel very important. If there's any concern that they may drop the rings, you can find cushions that you tie the rings to with ribbons, or a little dish to carry them in.
• Children of school age will love to feel useful. By handing out orders of service or cones of confetti, they'll also get a chance to say hello the relatives in attendance.
• Older children (10+) and teenagers will feel particularly special if they are part of the best men, ushers and bridesmaids and treated like mini adults.
• Confident performers may love to read out a short reading during the ceremony.
• Every bride needs somewhere to put her bouquet during the ceremony. You may wish to appoint a special girl as chief bouquet holder (although be ready to have it returned a little poked and prodded, or choose a slightly older child who can resist temptation!).
• Kids of all ages love bubbles, so hand them out to key children and seat them along the aisle so they can blow bubbles as you walk back down the aisle as husband and wife. Windsor Wedding & Children's Photographer 1Windsor Guildhall wedding photographer, Berystede wedding photographer, Beaumont House wedding photographer

Whatever role you decide children will play in your wedding, remember to be flexible - overexcitement or nerves may take over. If they have an adult on hand that can help guide them, this will help you and them feel more assured.

That's entertainment!

As bride and groom, your wedding day will zoom past in a blur. However, for your smaller guests in attendance the excitement will soon wear off, particularly during the wedding breakfast and speeches, which can take a few hours. It's worth considering how little people will stay entertained at this point.

Kids love it when they find something to entertain them waiting in their place when they sit down for a meal. This can be a simple as a colouring book or something more creative such as a puzzle sheet with word searches and quizzes based around the big day and the bride and groom (you can make these yourself if you're particularly creative, or find them on Etsy if you'd prefer someone else did the hard work). At a recent wedding I photographed, each child was delighted to find a pot of lego in their place and enjoyed comparing creations with each other and swapping pieces.

You may wish to go a step further and have a breakout room for kids, with craft tables for younger children or video games for older kids. At one wedding, where nearly a third of the guests were children the bride and groom cleverly hired an entertainer to perform in a side area near the main reception, ensuring parents could keep an eye on their children from a distance whilst they enjoyed their food and the kids were wowed with magic and science. There are also a number of wedding creche providers that offer creche services to ensure all your guests can enjoy the wedding breakfast, whilst knowing the children are being supervised and entertained.

Whilst we're on the subject of the wedding breakfast, whilst you and your guests will be enjoying three-course gourmet dining, the majority of those under 10 are going to be much happier with simple chicken nuggets, fish fingers or pizza. Check with your venue or caterers whether they offer child-friendly options on the menu.

Windsor Wedding & Children's Photographer 4Windsor wedding and family portrait photographer Who's left holding the baby?

Where it's mum and dad getting married and there are younger children involved that still need a lot of care and attention, it's worth agreeing in advance who will take care of them throughout the day. Whilst everyone on the day will be happy to chip in and help out, by specifically appointing a grandparent, auntie or uncle to be responsible for your little one during the day, you can avoid stress at critical moments during the day and your relative-in-charge-of-childcare can plan their time to ensure they can get themselves ready as well as little one.

This is particularly helpful during the ceremony, as if your little one starts to kick up a fuss, everyone knows who's responsible if they need to be taken out for a short while. Don't forget to make plans for the evening when babies and toddlers will be getting sleepy - consider whether they'll be happy dozing in a buggy at the reception or whether you need someone to take them to a hotel room to sleep - as well as plans for where they'll sleep overnight.

If you'd prefer for your relatives to enjoy your day without worrying about the children, then why not hire childcare in for the day. By hiring a nanny to attend the wedding and take care of your little one, you can all relax and enjoy the day knowing that your little one is taken care of. Whether it's a relative or a nanny caring for your little one, it's worth preparing a wedding day bag ready with spare outfits, wipes, toys and comforters, and plenty of nappies and milk if needed, so everything is on hand throughout the day.

Relax and have fun!

The most important thing is that you enjoy your day. Relax and have fun and take it as it comes. If things don't quite go to plan with the kids, then you'll probably end up with fun stories to tell for years to come!
 

I had an amazing time at the lovely Kim & Asif's wedding on Saturday - not least because the sun was shining! You'd be forgiven for thinking these images were taken in the height of summer, but no, it really was the beginning of April. I absolutely loved their styling - with amazing paper flowers made by Kim's friends, featuring some meaningful blooms crafted from maths textbooks and Pokemon comics - and with a monochrome colour scheme with hints of pink (including Kim's amazing shoes!).

I'd like to wish them every happiness for the future. Thank you for choosing me to tell your wedding day story - I hope you love your photos - this is a little taster and the rest will be with you soon!

Huge congratulations to Abi & Chris whose wedding I photographed on Friday. When I book an April wedding, my head is full of contingency plans for rain, but we couldn't have been more blessed with the weather, with a day filled with beautiful sunshine. Their fairytale day at the gothic Ramster Hall, was filled with colour and sparkle and included touches of Harry Potter and Disney fairy tales.

I first met Abi & Chris at Abi's cousin Sarah's wedding to Tom in Windsor last summer, so I was delighted when I heard of their engagement and they asked me to photograph their big day. I'd like to wish them every happiness for the future - congratulations Abi & Chris! Thank you for choosing my big day - I hope you love your preview - I look forward to sharing your full gallery when it's ready.

Beware of the cheese grimace - Ascot, Windsor, Eton, Maidenhead, Marlow photographer 1500Children's and family photographer - natural and relaxed photography - Windsor, Eton, Ascot, Maidenhead, Marlow & Henley Please don't say cheese!

I love photographing families and children. I love getting to meet some gorgeous kids and lovely parents. I love creating beautiful portraits that you can hang on the well or keep forever in a photo book to treasure the memories in days to come.

But there is one thing I hate about my job... I call it the cheese grimace!

You know the one; your gorgeous child normally has the most beautiful natural smile, but in photos they stretch their face, pulling back their cheeks as wide as they can to show off every single tooth in their mouth! If you need an example, witness the image to the left (my own son; oh, the photographer's shame!). It just doesn't look natural (compare to the image below which is much more relaxed and natural).

And yet, I've found that more than half of all children will pull this face at some point - most usually between the ages of about 2 and 6. Some do it when we say 'cheese', and some do it whenever a camera is pointed in their direction...

...Which can make my job a little difficult, but as a professional photographer I have my ways Natural smiles, natural family photography, Windsor, Maidenhead & Marlow 1500Children's and family photographer - natural and relaxed photography - Windsor, Eton, Ascot, Maidenhead, Marlow & Henley round this little obstacle. So I'm sharing with you some simple dos and don'ts for your family photoshoot to ensure we get natural beautiful smiles and avoid the cheese grimace!

Trust me

The first bit of advice I'd offer is to trust your photographer. With my years of experience as a family photographer, come not only technical skills of using a camera and crafting light, but also the knack of engaging with kids and getting natural reactions from them.

I've seen the cheese grimace countless times, but I have many ways to encourage natural smiles and reactions. Leave it with me, I will chat to your kids, tell them jokes, play games and you'll get beautiful portraits of natural smiles. I only need a smile for a split-second and I can capture it in an image - even if it seems like they're not smiling much, please trust me and resist the temptation to say cheese.

Some kids may be a little more reticent, and I may ask for your help to get them smiling and laughing, sometimes this will be singing songs or make faces behind me - I'll let you know when I need help, and I'll give you some tips on what I'd like you to do (usually, it will be making a fool of yourself - kids love it when mums and dads get silly!).

Avoid saying "don't smile" Relaxed family photography Windsor Maidenhead & Marlow 1500Children's and family photographer - natural and relaxed photography - Windsor, Eton, Ascot, Maidenhead, Marlow & Henley

When the cheese grimace shows its face, parents sometimes panic. They're thinking 'I want natural portraits of my gorgeous child, I don't want to hang that cheese face on the wall' and so they say "don't smile" or "don't make that face". This is just going to confuse your child. They think they're meant to smile for the camera, then they're told not to.

The best course of action is not to draw attention to it - if they start to act and behave naturally, without thinking about how they look or trying too hard to smile, then natural reactions are what I'll capture. Natural childrens photography Windsor Maidenhead and Marlow 1500Children's and family photographer - natural and relaxed photography - Windsor, Eton, Ascot, Maidenhead, Marlow & Henley

Don't tell them to look natural

If I were to tell you to "just look natural" or "try to smile normally", the chances are you'd totally forget what natural or normal even look like. You'd probably start concentrating really hard on how you're smiling and, by trying to be natural, you'll become less so. Whilst 'looking natural' is exactly what we want them to do, telling someone to do it, especially a child, and expecting them to be able to act upon it is really hard.

Natural child and baby photography Windsor Maidenhead & Marlow 1500Children's and family photographer - natural and relaxed photography - Windsor, Eton, Ascot, Maidenhead, Marlow & Henley My goal is natural, I'm aiming for 'normal' smiles, but I'll find my ways to coax them out without asking for it explicitly. Leave it with me - my aim is for us all to have fun during the photo session and the relaxed laughter, giggles and smiles should just happen.

Relax and have fun!

If you're relaxed, your children will relax too. Have fun, go with the flow and enjoy your photo session. But, please, don't say cheese!

When my two boys were little, the baby and toddler groups we went to were so important to me. They provided an opportunity to get out of the house, to mix with other new parents, as well as provide social interaction for the little ones and support their development. When I photograph babies, I'm often asked by the new parents if I can recommend any baby and toddler groups. I also see the question asked time and again on local pages on social media. During 2016, I was very fortunate to work with a number of fabulous local groups. Scroll down for my recommendations of places to go with your little ones.

Please note: all times and locations are correct at time of publishing (January 2017), but please do use the links to check with each group for their latest schedule.

Tree House Cafe

The Tree Tree House cafe WindsorWhere to go with my baby in Windsor House Cafe located within Windsor Baptist Church on Victoria Street is a lovely friendly and affordable place for Mums, Dads and Grandparents to meet with others, make friends and relax while their children have fun playing in the well-equipped play area. The Cafe staff pride themselves on their warm welcome, great coffee and range of toasties, delicious homemade cakes and imaginative children’s lunch boxes. They are passionate about community and are proud to be linked to the Windsor Homeless Project which operates from the Church three days a week. The Cafe has a core of wonderful trained volunteers who work alongside the staff freely giving their time to ensure the smooth running  and success of the Cafe. The customers support their charitable efforts by donating towards the suspended coffee and meal scheme which means that any one in need can be given a free hot drink and food when the cafe is open. The Tree House closely mirrors the values of the Baptist Church that is its home: Inclusive, Creative, Community and Family. The Cafe run a delightful toddler group "Tales from the Tree House" at 11am on a Monday, which I used to love taking my youngest son too. They also sell, in my opinion, one of the best hot chocolates in Windsor!

Find out more at the Tree House Cafe's facebook page.

NCT groups

NCT groups in WindsorWhat to do with my baby in Windsor? I am proud to have been involved with the NCT over the last seven years both as a volunteer and working with them through my photography business. The NCT is run by volunteers locally who do an amazing job providing support for expectant and new parents. As well as local workshops and annual fundraisers, such as the Christmas Party and Summer Fun Day, the NCT run a regular Bumps & Babies group from 11-12.30 at the Mountbatten Room in the Holy Trinity Garrison Church on Claremont Road. This is a friendly and welcoming group for all expectant parents and those with non-mobile babies - a great place to meet other new mums and have a cup of tea, with lots of baby toys for the little ones. The NCT has also been running a similar group in Langley, although at time of writing this is looking for a new venue. There is also a sling library run monthly at the Tree House Cafe, and lots of other smaller events. Join the NCT to receive the newsletter to find out more. And if you have a little spare time - even if it's only an hour a month - they are always on the look out for new volunteers, are very friendly and it's a great opportunity to use your skills and meet others.

Get involved and find out the latest information on groups on the Slough, Windsor & District NCT facebook page.

Music with Mummy

Music with Mummy WindsorWhere to go with my baby in Windsor Music with Mummy and Jolly Babies classes are run Monday-Thursday in Windsor by the lovely Fran & Mary. The Music with Mummy programme will take your child on a musical journey from birth, all the way through the pre-school ages. The structured weekly music classes use baby songs and fun activities for children to encourage listening and social skills, so essential not only in music but in all other areas of learning. They will develop a sense of rhythm, which will also help with learning and speech development. The fabulous music and songs for babies and children are an eclectic mixture of traditional tunes that are unique to our delightful programme. I loved joining these classes and seeing the babies and children enjoy the music, educational games and fun activities.

Find out more and see the class times on the Music with Mummy Windsor website.

Showstopper Babies

Showstopper BabiesWhat to do with my baby or toddler in Windsor? Showstopper Babies classes are run on Monday in Maidenhead and on Friday in Windsor by Mairi, who has brought her experience producing West End musicals to a fabulous class for babies. These sensory classes offer a unique blend of popular musical theatre show tunes, using the sights and sounds of the theatre world, as well as nursery rhymes and songs created especially for Showstopper Babies. With lights, music, singing, movement and dance the little ones develop their vocal sounds, and encourage good coordination and musicality. As well as that all important bonding experience between you and your child. I came away from photographing these classes humming some of my favourite show tunes!

Find out class times and more information at Showstopper Babies' website.

Nurture Babes

Baby massage classes - Nurture BabesWhat to do with my baby in Windsor? Nurture Babes massage classes are run on a Tuesday in Datchet and a Wednesday in Windsor by Sharon, a trained baby massage instructor accredited by the Royal College of Midwives. Sharon loved massaging her twin boys and so trained to be able to help others learn to massage their babies. As well as helping with bonding, I found baby massage with my own sons to be great at relieving wind and aiding sleep, and there are so many other benefits. In addition to her scheduled classes Sharon offers one-to-one sessions and private group sessions.

Find out more at Nurture Babes website.

Simple Changes

Simple Changes pilates for new mumsExercise during pregnancy and for new mums in Windsor Last, but definitely not least, every expectant and new mum should take some time for herself and may wish to consider her health and fitness. Natasha at Simple Changes is a qualified pre- and post-natal instructor for pilates and exercise. Natasha runs classes in Datchet on a Tuesday evening for pregnancy pilates, and on a Thursday morning for new mums where non-mobile babies are very welcome. In addition to her classes, Natasha also offers one-to-one personal training sessions.

Class details and more information on exercising during and after pregnancy can be found on the Simple Changes website.

The Maternity Network
Maternity Network BerkshireNetwork of maternity and baby professionals - what to do with my baby in Windsor I'm also a member of the Maternity Network (along with a few of the lovely people mentioned above) - a network of specialists who offer support from when you are considering starting a family, throughout your pregnancy, the day you meet your baby and throughout your family life. All Maternity Network members have declared they are fully qualified, registered with a professional body and have full medical and liability insurance cover, so you can be assured of an excellent service. If you're looking for any support before, during or after your baby is born, take a loot at the Maternity Network directory.

Wishing Rob & Lucia very many congratulations on their wedding that I photographed on Saturday! When we saw the weather forecast the day before we had a call to arrange contingency plans as we were expecting torrential rain. The storm came... and then it went: the sun came out to shine down on a lovely ceremony filled with love. We got outside for some beautiful portraits while the clouds came over and had just enough time before the torrential rain returned - we couln't have timed it better! I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with two such lovely people who are so clearly in love, and surrounded by wonderful family to support them. Wishing you a very happy life together! Thanks for choosing me as your photographer - here's a little preview, there will be lots more beautiful images to follow.